by Anonymous

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ROCKVILLE, Md.— For the tenth year in a row, Kaiser Permanente is again among the highest rated Medicare health plans as indicated in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) annual Star Ratings for 2022. In the newly released ratings, Kaiser Permanente’s Medicare Advantage (HMO) plans are the only plans to achieve a 5-star rating – the highest possible – in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia for the tenth year in a row. The top rating demonstrates the health plan’s exceptional approach to providing expert medicine, seamless quality care, and outstanding service to its Medicare health plan members.

“At Kaiser Permanente, we are extremely proud to be recognized for our ongoing commitment to delivering high-quality care and an exceptional member experience with five-star ratings from CMS for the 10th year,” said Ruth Williams-Brinkley, regional president for Kaiser Permanente, Mid-Atlantic. “This important accomplishment required focus and commitment from all members of our team to deliver our uniquely integrated care to our nearly 800,000 members in the region. Together, we are improving health and helping our members thrive. It is an honor to celebrate a decade of receiving 5-star ratings from CMS.”

CMS created the Medicare star quality rating system to provide beneficiaries with a way to assess Medicare health plans based on quality of care and service delivery, so they can make an informed decision when choosing a plan. CMS uses the star ratings system to rate Medicare health plans on a scale of 1 to 5 stars, with 5 stars representing the highest quality. CMS is a federal agency and division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

“Our Permanente physicians are dedicated to advancing quality, innovation and value,” said Richard McCarthy, MD, executive medical director for Kaiser Permanente. “Telemedicine and on-demand 24/7 virtual care, for example, enable us to maintain close connections with patients, which has been especially transformational for the rapid diagnosis and treatment of disease during the pandemic. The data shows that if every person in the nation received the superior care our Permanente physicians provide, hundreds of thousands of lives would be saved each year."

Every year, CMS rates all Medicare Advantage health plans (Parts C and D) on multiple facets of care and service, including chronic conditions management, health maintenance, patient experience, customer service, and pharmacy services. The ratings align with Kaiser Permanente's integrated health care delivery system, which brings a multitude of services together to focus on patient and customer needs. The ability to transform care and improve health outcomes along with its systematic approach to continuous improvement highlight Kaiser Permanente as an organization that sets the standard for health care.

“Our patient-centric approach, bolstered by our cutting-edge data systems, means that patients are getting reliably excellent care,” said Joseph Territo, MD, associate medical director of the Mid-Atlantic 2 Permanente Medical Group. “Over the past year, while we rapidly responded to the pandemic and provided great care to our patients with COVID-19, we also continued to concentrate on disease prevention, chronic conditions management and effective treatment programs for all our patients”

Medicare-eligible people can enroll in individual Medicare Advantage and Part D plans during the Medicare open enrollment period, which begins on October 15 and runs through December 7, 2021. Medicare-eligible individuals who have a 5-star Medicare health plan available in their area can also take advantage of a special enrollment period that runs from December 8, 2021, through November 30, 2022. During that time, they can join or switch to a plan with a 5-star quality rating (one plan change allowed per special enrollment period).

The CMS 5-star ratings is the latest in a series of positive quality recognitions for Kaiser Permanente in the Mid-Atlantic region. In September, the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) rated Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States as the only private (commercial) and Medicare health plans available in Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia to earn a 5-star rating according to the organization’s Health Plan Ratings for 2021. 2021 is the eighth NCQA report in which Kaiser Permanente’s regional health plan in the Mid-Atlantic received 5 stars.

In addition to national quality ratings, evidence shows that Kaiser Permanente’s members live longer, healthier lives thanks to an integrated delivery system, regular disease screenings, cutting-edge treatment plans and successful management of chronic conditions. Whether members need a mammogram or blood pressure checks, these are integrated into care across the health system, making access convenient for members. For example, not only can a Kaiser Permanente member receive a mammogram at nearly all the health system’s 34 medical centers in the region, but mammogram results are often provided in less than an hour. If the mammogram findings are suspicious, follow-up diagnostic breast imaging and biopsy can often be completed the same day – reducing stress for the member and speeding up the diagnosis. As a national leader in the percentage of members receiving breast cancer screening, Kaiser Permanente breast cancer patients have a lower mortality rate compared to national benchmarks. Additionally, any visit at Kaiser Permanente is a blood pressure check – whether it is an eye exam or a dermatology visit – which is one important step that results in better management of high blood pressure among Kaiser Permanente members compared to national averages.

Medicare beneficiaries can learn more about the star ratings and Kaiser Permanente’s Medicare health plans by visiting www.kp.org/medicarestars

By Kevin Leyes May 27, 2021

Gender equality in the workforce is critical to the opportunity, growth and success of all companies. Companies that use equitable hiring and pay practices are more likely to see increased sales and productivity in their workforces, which translates to more monetary success for a company as a whole. In 2021, of businesses that employ gender equality practices, 73 percent reported increased profitability and productivity. While equitable practices are inherently good for women, it's clear they're also good for businesses — for the bottom line as well as the office culture. 

Gender equality in the workplace refers to equal access to resources for male and female employees. Gender equality practices often include hiring quotas for women, equal opportunities for women in leadership and equal pay. In addition, gender equality in the workplace refers to equal access to promotion opportunities, equal decision-making power between men and women and the removal of barriers for women to participate. While gender equality in the workforce doesn't guarantee identical results, its primary focus is to provide equal opportunity for both men and women. Eliminating hiring discrimination based on family or childcare responsibilities is also often included in gender-equality practices.   

Having more women within a company, on teams and in positions of power or leadership has drastic impacts on a company's overall practices. Gender equality matters because it's proven to create a dynamic workplace with a broader collection of backgrounds, viewpoints and life experiences, resulting in a more well-rounded decision-making process. Creating equal opportunities for men and women to collaborate on decisions also leads to diminished risk-taking, less aggressive strategies and improved workplace satisfaction and employee turnover rates.   

Women are a positive investment in the workplace. According to the Global Gender Gap report, women are increasingly more highly educated in comparison to men. A company's competitive advantage on a global scale is deeply impacted by a company's ability to attract and retain the best talent, which means highly educated women are valuable players for a company's overall worth. Top-tier employees are also more likely to stay in diverse and equitable organizations, which helps to eliminate employee turnover.  

For leadership teams, women are an essential part of the equation. Executive teams are 21 percent  more likely to have above-average profitability if the team is gender diverse. The presence of women in top managing positions can drastically raise the value of a company or firm worldwide. Research and studies across the board prove that women are positive for a company’s bottom line.  

Runners, be sure to mark your calendars because the Green Bowie Veterans Day 5K is back and better than ever! The Green Bowie 5K is a FREE fun run and walk for everyone. The course is a certified 5K one and registration gets you a free t-shirt and access to a great way to celebrate our many veterans in the City of Bowie. This event is also a way to celebrate the many "green" efforts in Bowie and has many aspects of sustainability involved, including being outside and being active! Register here. .

When: November 13, 2021, 8:30 a.m.

Where: Bowie Town Center. Race begins in the parking lot behind Five Guys.

Questions? Contact Ashleigh Diaz at 301-809-3044 or email adiaz@cityofbowie.org.

Additional information, including the hourly and annual 10th, 25th, 75th, and 90th percentile wages, is available in the downloadable XLS file.

In August 4.3 million Americans quit their jobs. While some people have left the workforce entirely, job security and better pay are top concerns for others.

Dubbed “The Great Resignation,” the exodus of workers has created hiring challenges for companies and left millions of jobs unfilled. 

More than half of U.S. workers surveyed said they plan to look for a new job in the coming year, according to Bankrate’s August job seeker survey. Some 56% of respondents said adjustable working hours and remote work are a priority.

Early evidence suggests enhanced jobless benefits played at most a small role in keeping people from work. So, why aren’t people rushing back to take jobs?

A record 4.3 million people quit their jobs in August. Front-line workers in sectors like restaurants, bars and retail quit at the highest rates — lending credence to the idea that fear of contagion and hazards of in-person work are playing a role, Swonk said.

Job growth should re-accelerate as Covid cases abate, according to Zhao. (There were roughly 76,000 average new daily infections as of Oct. 18, less than half their recent Sept. 1 peak.)

Cash balances were up 50% for the typical household in July 2021 relative to two years earlier, according to the JPMorgan Chase Institute.

There’s also a mismatch between worker and company expectations. For example, between one-fourth and one-third of corporate chief financial officers expect their organization to return to in-person work full-time, which is fundamentally inconsistent with the flexibility workers want, according to Tim Glowa, a principal at Grant Thornton, citing company surveys.

Comfort Inn & Conference Center - Bowie

2nd Wednesday of the Month (November 10, 2021)

Starts at 5:35 p.m.

Cash Bar

No registration required.

20^th Anniversary Block Party

Bowie Town Center

15606 Emerald Way

Bowie, MD 20716

When: November 13, 2021, 8:30 a.m.

Where: Bowie Town Center. Race begins in the parking lot behind Five Guys.

Questions? Contact Ashleigh Diaz at 301-809-3044 or email adiaz@cityofbowie.org.

Unless otherwise noted above, register online www.BowieChamber.org

Bags that contain any of the items listed above can no longer be put out at the curb for collection. They must be in trash receptacles to prevent vultures, rodents, and other animals from getting into the trash. Questions? Call 301-809-2344 or email amullikin@cityofbowie.org

The Bowie Golf course will once again open to the public for play and golf cart rentals on Wednesday, November 3. There will be a soft opening on Monday, November 1st, during which the gate will open for guests and prospective employees to come in and speak with the Indigo Sports team. Indigo Sports will also begin taking tee times on that date.

For more information, please email TJ Basil (tbasil@compasspointegolf.com), Michael Senneca (msenneca@indigogolf.com) or Justin Smith (jsmith@indigogolf.com). If you would like to receive updates on the status of the Bowie Golf Course, please email golf@cityofbowie.org.